Friday, January 23, 2009

Up at 16 Patton Fine Art

Margaret Dyer

Margaret Dyer master of pastel is also working in oil. One of my earliest art classes was Dyer’s pastel class. Oh was it ever delicious, discovering all those colors in skin tones and having the figure come alive on paper. She is truly inspiring and a deft painter. It has been so nice to reconnect with her work. To you, Margaret, great job!


Favorite Black Shoes





Raymond Chorneau

Chorneau’s work is dreamy and textural with brush strokes enlivened by oil and cold wax. You can see the Bay Area/Olivera influence in these constructions, where layers are added and layers are removed; snippets of each bring the surface to life. These figures are moody, strong, vague and present. The tension is palpable, we’re not sure what has transpired. Take a good long drink of Chorneau’s work.



Left: Pow, Right: Blue Morning





R. John Ichter
Talk about pure color! R. John Ichter’s work incorporates pure pigment in intense competing colors which create a rich, vibrant world. This work has a strong presence and a velvety feeling, I’m not talking Elvis velvet here. The pigment sparkles and crackles; they reach out and grab your attention. You will not be a passive viewer.
Sapphire Point







Suzy Schultz

Bathed in light and perched pensively in a chair “Expecting #2” is sheer anticipation. This large watercolor by Shultz is well executed, the paint fluid and spontaneous. We have happened upon a very private moment; this sitter is expectant.














Expecting #2

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Changing Coasts Opening

Here are Photos from the opening of my Changing Coasts Show









Press Release:

Asheville Area Arts Council presents: Changing Coasts, new work by Mary Farmer

Changing Coasts encaustic work by new to Asheville artist, Mary Farmer, captures her impression of WNC. Says Farmer, "Working in wax, encaustic painting, is a very physical endeavor. You'll find heat guns, hot plates, large wooden panels, and gas torches in my studio. This physicality is very appealing to me as I layer and scrape, gouge and fill, heat and distress each work. When paired with my own visual vocabulary, I find myself deeply involved in the process; it is the perfect combination of process, abstraction, color, movement and composition."

Paintings rendered in encaustic have given collectors a new medium to contemplate and has attracted its very own following. The work is lush,
luminous and presents great depth.





A reception for Asheville artist Mary Farmer will be held in the Boardroom Gallery on Friday, January 9, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at the Asheville Area Arts Council,11 Biltmore Avenue. Titled “Changing Coasts”, the exhibit remains on display through Feb 28.


Mary Farmer
828.712.3786
6 Lakeshore Lane
Asheville, NC 28804
www.maryfarmer.com